Governor warns Texans to be vigilant - no specific threat, part of Homeland Security level orange...

AUSTIN — Security at Texas airports, borders and waterways has tightened following the elevated national terror alert, although Gov. Rick Perry says the state is under no specific threat.

But the governor urged residents to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement officers immediately.

"The State Emergency Operations Center already has been activated due to the space shuttle Columbia tragedy and we will notify state agencies, health institutions, schools and others to review their security measures and take appropriate actions to guard against terrorism," Perry said Friday.

The governor said he spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge on Friday morning and his office would "remain in close contact with federal officials."

Citing what they called credible evidence that the al-Qaida terrorist network wants to attack the United States during upcoming Muslim holy days, homeland security officials have urged greater vigilance by Americans at home and abroad.

The nation was placed on the second-highest alert level of orange. Timing of threats could be linked to the annual Muslim observance of hajj, which begins Saturday and lasts five days. It involves a pilgrimage to Mecca that all Muslims are expected to take at least once.

Security was boosted at the Port of Houston, airports and energy facilities. U.S. Customs Service officials increased security along the Texas-Mexico border.

"We implement additional security precautions, including increased examinations and inspections of all arriving vehicles, commercial trucks, pedestrians," said Roger Maier, a Customs Service spokesman in El Paso.

He said officials did not anticipate significant increases in waiting times, though "the potential exists."

The agency takes additional security measures that cannot be disclosed, Maier said.

Austin Police Chief Stan Knee said officers will continue to heavily patrol areas and buildings in the Texas Capital that could be come terrorist targets.

In Houston, the national alert automatically triggered local security measures, said Harris County Judge Robert Eckels, a member of a special White House advisory panel of local elected officials devising homeland security strategies.

"In some cases like the Port of Houston, they will increase security and restrict access more than they normally would," said Eckels. "In general, for most law enforcement officers, they would become more aware and observant."

Additional measures established Friday included doubling the contingent of security officers at port facilities. Also, controlled access to the waterways was implemented and some waterways and streets were closed.

But residents may notice few changes as a result of heightened security, said Robert Doguim, spokesman for the FBI field office in Houston.

Air travelers should be patient of delays and watch for suspicious activity, said Houston Airport Systems spokesman Ernest DeSoto.

"The average person coming to the airport will notice more random checks, more vehicle checks," DeSoto said. "They will see more law enforcement presence; they will see more K-9 units moving around a lot more."

At San Antonio International Airport, stricter parking regulations will keep motorists at least 300 feet from passenger terminals.

The regional office of the federal Transportation Security Administration in Fort Worth said major airports already were operating at high security levels.

"Knowing that we're under level orange, people are going to be even more alert, but the physical process of screening passengers and their bags won't change," TSA spokesman Ed Martelle said.

Property managers for the more than 200 hotels of Dallas-based Wyndham International Inc. were asked to review procedures with employees, including checking planters for hidden contraband, keeping outside shrubs shorter than 3 feet and calling the police about suspicious activity.

Hyatt Regency at Reunion in Dallas has kept its staff on heightened alert since the Sept. 11 attacks.

"Hyatt is keeping current with developments and continuously reviewing our security procedures," said general manager Steve Vissotzky.

At The University of Texas at Austin, tours at the 307-foot main tower were canceled along with toughened campus parking rules.

#1 In 1968 who assassinated Robert Kennedy?
(a) Abbe Hoffman
(b) Tiny Tim
(c) Charles Manson
(d) Muslim male extremist between the age of 17 and 40

#2 In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by:
(a)Olga Corbutt
(b)Sitting Bull
(c)Arnold Schwartzeneger
(d)Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

#3 In 1979,the U.S. embassy in Iran was taken over by:
(a) Lost Norwegians
(b) Elvis
(c) A tour bus full of 80-year-old women
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

#4 During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by:
(a) John Dillinger
(b) The King of Sweden
(c) The Boy Scouts
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

#5 In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:
(a) A Domino's pizza delivery boy
(b) Pee Wee Herman
(c) Geraldo Rivera making up for a slow news day
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

#6 In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked, and a 70 year old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard by:
(a) The Smurfs
(b) Davy Jones
(c) The Little Mermaid
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

#7 In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a U.S. Navy diver was murdered by:
(a) Captain Kid
(b) Charles Lindberg
(c) Mother Teresa
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

#8 In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
(a) Scooby Doo
(b) The Tooth Fairy
(c) Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid with dynamite left over from the
train job.
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

#9 In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by:
(a) Richard Simmons
(b) Grandma Moses
(c) Michael Jordan
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

#10 In 1998, the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:
(a) Mr. Rogers
(b) Hillary, to distract attention from Wild Bill's women problems
(c) The World Wrestling Federation to promote its next villain: "Mustapha
the Merciless"
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

#11 In 1999, The USS Cole was attacked and more than 15 American Sailors were killed by:
(a) David Letterman
(b) Shaquille O'Neil
(c) The Cookie Monster
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

#12 On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked and destroyed and thousands of people were killed by:
(a) Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck, and Elmer Fudd
(b) The Supreme Court of Florida
(c) Mr. Bean
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

#13 In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against:
(a)Enron
(b)The Lutheran Church
(c)The NFL
(d)Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

#14 In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by:
(a) Bonny and Clyde
(b) Captain Kangaroo
(c) Billy Graham
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

#15 In 2001 Phillipene Missionaries Gracia and Martin Burnham were kidnapped, held for over a year, and Martin subsequently killed by:
(a) Mr. Rogers
(b) Scooby Doo & Shaggy
(c) Ronald Reagan
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

#16 On July 4th 2002, 2 Innocent Airline Passengers Were Killed, And 3 Others Injured at the ticket counter of El Al Airlines in the LAX International terminal by:
(a) Hulk Hogan after losing the WWF Title
(b) The cast of Monty Python
(c) Senator Lil' Tommy Daschle
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 41

#17 On July 31st 5 Americans were killed by a Palestinian HAMAS bomber in Jerusalem while attending school by:
(a) The US Congress
(b) The tooth fairy
(c) The easter bunny
(d) Muslim male extremits mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

#18 On October 12th 2002 more than 200 innocent civilians (including 200 Australians and 5 Americans) were brutally murdered by:

(a)Kermit the Frog & Miss Piggy

(b)Bert & Ernie from Sesame Street

(c)Charles Barkley

(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 41

#19 On October 29th 2002 more than 700 Moscow theatre goers were taken hostage and threatened with execution by:

(a)Royal Canadian Mounted Police

(b)Laurie Dhue of Fox News Channel

(c)Phil Donahue, of MSNBC, pissed because Fox News is kicking his ass

(d)Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 41

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I think there might be a treand here...

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