What is Terror, Anyway?

Why is there a War on Terror, Terrorists, Elevated Terror Threat Level, etc, etc, and no real definition of "terror"? Aren't average, ordinary car thieves terrorists of some type? What about drunk men who beat their girlfriends- aren't they terrorizing someone and therefore terrorists? Aren't people responsible for prisoners who abuse their charges terrorists? That would cover civilian prison guards and military personnel as well, anyone who has responsibilities to prisoners and who treat those prisoners with disrespect or outright abuse. Terrorists and the war on terror? Sounds like nothing more than semantics to me. Since this is my journal for planning the Big Trip, I have to admit I have done very little in the planning. I have heard from London Jon, aka Jungle Jon who FINALLY left Bejing, God bless him. He has moved on to tae kwon do with some monks south of Bejing before heading to Shanghai. Seamy the Irishman is nowhere to be found, presumably on his way to Thailand. I won't hear much from him, but hope to perhaps see him in the winter in Boston/NYC. The plans will be further along by then, and perhaps I will be living closer to that area. New Haven? Hartford? All to be determined. Katie's graduation is the first step, then looking for jobs and apartments and determining affordability. So much to do!! Tomorrow is the graduation, then Steve Gibson's PhD graduation party, then Courtney and Tom's wedding and subsequent reception. All of this AND catching up on sleep. Looking forward to the sleep and and also to kickball, my first time in 3 weeks on the field. Softball begins next week, too. If the rain stops anytime soon, all of these events will go as planned. 'Til next week!