Interesting People mailing list archives
more on TSA and Fear
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2006 10:28:13 -0400
Begin forwarded message: From: Jeremy Epstein <jeremy.epstein () webmethods com> Date: September 28, 2006 9:42:12 AM EDT To: dave () farber net, ip () v2 listbox com Subject: RE: [IP] more on TSA and FearFlew Tuesday Washington Dulles -> Austin, and Wednesday Austin -> Dulles. Per the new rules, I had my <3 ounce toiletries in a clear plastic bag; no problem getting through at Dulles with them in a separate tub (not inside my
luggage). The TSA folks were talking about a "mini water bottle" (I'mguessing 8oz) that they saw on the screen in another passenger's luggage,
but I saw no effort to remove it. On the way home, I forgot to take thetoiletries out of my suitcase; sailed right through anyway without anyone
asking questions.Coincidentally, USA Today ran a story Wednesday titled "Airports go extra
mile to get smiles"(http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2006-09-26-bonus- main_x.htm). [I'm only aware of it because they gave free copies at the hotel - I would never
pay money for USA Today unless I ran out of toilet paper.] The articlenotes that some airports are "easing the hassle factor. Responding to new rules [sic] mandating shoe removal at TSA security checkpoints, Chicago's
O'Hare and Midway airports started handing out free booties last month. Similar programs are in place at other airports, including Washington's Dulles and Reagan National, Phoenix, San Diego and Des Moines." Aninteresting idea, but every time I go through Dulles the bins of booties are
empty (if you can find one at all). And if they think the "rules" aboutshoe removal are new, they must not have traveled in recent years - while it
was theoretically voluntary, everyone knows it was only voluntary if you wanted it followed by a strip search. Security theatre? No, because at least "theatre" is entertaining. --Jeremy P.S. Last week I went through several airports in Europe with a 1 liter water bottle in my carryon. No one ever blinked an eye. Maybe they'veconcluded that dihydrogen monoxide isn't as dangerous as TSA seems to think.
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