Quote (O): "As to why the sudden kerfuffle about liquids, most of us, including officialdom, don't think of the possibilities, or dismiss them as unlikely, until something happens. All of a sudden, the light dawns, as it seems to have done."

Ah, but we plebians (airline passengers) are not in charge of national security.   Since TPTB have known about the risks for decades and especially after 9-11, the only reason for alarming us, the public, NOW is to instill fear so it can be exploited for political reasons.

Liquids on planes are no more dangerous today than they have been for many, many years.

And I, for one, do not feel one whit safer now that I can't take lipstick, contact lens solution, nasal spray, or coffee aboard the plane with me.    But I'll surely reconsider whether to fly at all if I have to add 45 min. on each end of each trip to check and (maybe) retrieve my small suitcase.