Terror Alert Orange

Terror Alert: Elevated and High

I was reminded of the terror alert by the Fox News ticker during the Bill O'Reilly show yesterday, during a segment on new details re: the Natalie Holloway/Aruba case, shortly after a ticker item referencing suspected somethings-or-others.

Fox, the only TV news station to continue use of the color-coded terror alert system on a daily basis, performs a valuable service. So do all the newspapers which print daily the current terror alert level.

I, in my insulated world of London bombs and promises of a WMD strike against the "Homeland" (beware the attack 'simulations'), had forgotten what colors and words I am supposed to use to define my everyday existence.

Let me repeat them:

Terror alert orange; transportation industries such as subways, buses and trains are HIGH.
Terror alert yellow; everyone else is just ELEVATED.

The terror alert level has never fallen below elevated since its creation following the events of September 11, 2001.

I had forgotten
I needed
to elevate
my alertness
of terror

Am I supposed to be looking for bearded men in heavy coats?

According to the International Association of Police Chiefs, I am.

What do I do when Winter comes? I like my beard and I don't want to freeze to death, though it might be better than a bullet in the head.

-j.a.h.