Posted on 07/22/2004 5:34:32 PM PDT by GreyWolf
I post this personal encounter to ascertain whether any other Freepers have had similar experiences or have heard of anyone observing such behavior as I describe below.
Last week, my wife and I were driving home from our place of employment in Central Maryland. We always take US 29 N to US 40 E to the outer suburbs of Baltimore. As we passed under the only enclosed footbridge on US 29 at Columbia, I noticed a female Asian or Middle Eastern person on the footbridge appearing to stare South at the traffic passing underneath her. She was not moving but ewas just kneeling there supposedly watching for something. It seemed out of place at the exact instant we passed under her but I quickly dismissed the encounter as merely curious.
As we continued north approximately 2-3 miles, we noticed a bicycle parked on the shoulder ahead. As we drew closer we saw an unmistakable ME type crouched down behind the guardrail also watching traffic approaching from the south. Now they have my attention! I made it a point to continue straight home and upon arrival called the Howard County non-emergency police number to report the observation. They seemed unusually interested asking for descriptions and whether I had seen any cameras or binoculars. After about 10-15 minutes of grilling they thanked me for the information and related that they were going to send a car to "check it out". I hung up feeling a little proud of myself for having done my civic duty and perhaps helping out in the WOT.
Today, exactly one week, almost to the minute, we were driving the same route. I did not notice the footbridge or whether anyone was stationed there but as we proceeded north about 1/2 mile beyond the bridge, the same ME male with the parked bicycle, this time was standing in the shoulder area of the highway except today he was signaling in a manner that I remember from my Navy days when the signalmen used to wig-wag converse with signalmen on other ships. I don't know who he was signaling. It could have been someone again on the footbridge or someone in a vehicle BUT HE WAS DEFINATELY SIGNALING someone.
Now my curiosity is peaked. I am a communications (and software) engineer working for a DoD contractor and I am aware that there are ears listening very closely to every corner of the rf spectrum. My question is this:
1. Are these people likely up to something underhanded and
2. Have they resorted to communicating via non-wired or non-transmitted means in order to avoid detection?
I admire your pithiness. But how so?
I can't believe you're serious, but here goes:
It is illegal to physically stand next to the highway.
People standing next to highways are out of place.
It is not normal for people to stand next to highways.
Physical harm and or death could result.
Hence hitch-hiking being illegal.
Well, that thins out the herd considerably.
Especially here in NY..
Hi sweets.
Caught mewhile I was on my way off to my 'unholy slumber' for teh evening.
Kinda stayed up later than normal..
Considering it's 11:28 at the moment..
I'm fixin' to go to bed too....but it's a bit early for me. Nermal is fussing at me though, and I'm tired. See ya tomorrow, Darks.
Yuppers.
See you sometime tomorrow.
Laters.
Give Nermal some scritches for me.
...and I would suggest doing the same for LOCAL sheriff & police departments. Getting 911 help from a cell phone takes awhile.
[I'd notice a guy who's about to get his bike stolen!]
LOL!
[But Ok, maybe I'm wrong and this is the big one. ]
Nah, I was never getting at that, just that it's good that people are noticing weird things, things out of place. Sure 99% of all the reports the cops get are bogus but it only takes that 1% ...
[Orlando sounds nice! I am RMHS Rocket myself. Grew up in College Gardens]
No way! I went to RM my sophomore year then transferred to Wootton when my folks moved. Grew up in Twinbrook. Matter of fact I just came back from up there a few days ago. Went to check out the old house, etc. Probably been 20 years since I was there.
What a goat rope. Traffic is horrendous in that area now.
For one, this isn't that kind of highway. It's sort of a state road run amuck. At grade crossings mixed with on/off ramps. It's nuts. Orange barrels an construction all the time. Runs right through Columbia. splitting the neighborhoods in two. I will count how many people by that road tomorrow when I go to Laurel and post it here. While it might be illegal and they are definitley in danger, it is a big leap to terrorism don't you think? Seriously?
There's a small highway here called route6.
Speed limit 55.
The cops tend to get upset for people being at the side of the road.
And this IS a rural area, complete with cows and roadkill.
Smile,
The WW is carrying nearly 4 times the traffic it was designed to carry. It has been shored and up and repaired many times and simply can not endure the load irregarless of the bridge openings. The main cause of the openings has gone away as the Washington Post no longer brings news print in by ship.
The 495 accident burnt for hours after the accident and the damage was real though unreported. Steel does funny things when exposed to intense heat and the worst is hardening, which makes it brittle. While that overpass had been a hazard for some time it was not until that accident that there were any plans to fix it in the near future.
The truck driver lost control of the vehicle and hit the right side of the overpass. It was a fuel truck and it incerated him and a co-worker of mine who has right behind at the time. In case you don't remember, it too was a fuel truck carrying 9000 gallons of gasoline. Though they reopened the bridge the next day it was soon replaced.
Do not under-estimate what these folks will do and the amount of planning and studying they will undertake to reek havoc.
In regards to the lost soul on the WW and how screwed up traffic was for an entire day, what if these people did decide to threaten suicide on just the WW the American Legion and the 14th street. The entire city would come to a standstill and then the main event. Emergency and Police services would be unable to respond to any sort of attack or disaster.
Just as with the aircraft we seem to be being sized up for something. I hope you are correct that this is all just a little bit overreacting but I really do not feel very good about what I saw and upon GW's posting what he saw I really do not feel that this is just happenstance. Let's hope that I don't have to say I told you so.
Best Regards,
Boiler Plate
In the morning, the car was vandalized and property inside, stolen.
We need to take notice of the "9/11 report, when they mentioned "a crime of imagination"...I think that's how they put it. Anyway, it said that we just couldn't imagine a situation like that happening, and it became our downfall. Since I'm originally from MN, I call it my "Little House on the Prairie Syndrome." We don't want to think ill of anyone, but unfortunately...
True, But we also have the issue of cops off on wild goose chases for every cry of wolf. This can bog the system down and do more harm than good. Where does one draw the line? For me it's a bit higher that's all.
I went to RM my sophomore year then transferred to Wootton when my folks moved. Grew up in Twinbrook
Small world! I lived on Okinawa Ave in Twinbrook when I moved out. My folks moved to Dufief and my little sister went to Wootton as well! (Party at the Power lines)! It's changed alot! Those houses in "The Brook" are going for like half a mil'!! And you ain't kidding about the traffic! I came, I saw, I got stuck in traffic!
Bump for later.
For one, this isn't that kind of highway. It's sort of a state road run amuck. At grade crossings mixed with on/off ramps. It's nuts. Orange barrels an construction all the time.
Smile,
You are being a little disengenuos here. Rte 29 is slowly but surely becoming a limited access hiway just like Rte 50.
especially north of Fairlands. How many of those "at grade" crossing are being replace? Let's see Rte 198 and Cherry Hill Rd at present and what at grade crossings are left north of 198? I don't think there are any. 212, 216, 32, 100, 175, 108, 103 are all overpasses. So yes it is that knd of a highway at that point.
Regards,
Boiler Plate
All right I confess. The 1st house I owned was on Lemay, but we had a front door facing the street. I grew up in Regency Estates and went to Churchill.
Yes, I doubt those rural police have as much to deal with as ours. Snipers, murder, rape, bank hiests Etc. Not much time for road standers I guess. I have been stranded on the side of the road and have police drive right by. They have better things to do I suppose. Mmmm! Cows and roadkill! sounds like a bit of heaven! :) You must come to Baltimore sometime! Just lock your doors!
I keep getting it wrong, too. Vidi, Vici, Veni!
My wife works in LE and part of her job is to run down these calls. Haven't heard her complain yet though some funny ones have made the paper.
Small world! I lived on Okinawa Ave in Twinbrook when I moved out. My folks moved to Dufief and my little sister went to Wootton as well! (Party at the Power lines)! It's changed alot! Those houses in "The Brook" are going for like half a mil'!! And you ain't kidding about the traffic! I came, I saw, I got stuck in traffic!
Wow! Spooky. I lived on Aleutian and my parents moved to Dufief! Wonder if Piney Meeting House is still around? Yeah, can't believe those houses are going for that much. Think my folks paid around 20k in '72 but they moved to Dufief in '76 so they didn't get nearly that much.
You were OK with the Lemay part, then you had to go and mention Churchill ... ;-)
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