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TSA Changes Screening Based on Blog Suggestion
hhavensteincw writes "Less than a week after it launched a new blog aimed at gathering suggestions from air travelers to improve airport security processes, the Transportation Security Administration changed a practice where some screeners were requiring passengers to remove all electronics, including Blackberries, iPods, and cords from carry-on luggage. Seems the TSA didn't know this was going on, and after the question was raised on its blog, it clamped down on the practice. The TSA also provided a detailed description of their reasoning behind the liquids policy. We discussed the opening of the blog last week."
So now when something is complained about that isn't official, the TSA might decide it's a good idea and crack down on screeners following the official line. Enjoy complaining and spoiling it for the rest of us someday.
The baggie gives us two benefits: A) It serves as a visually identifiable, easy way to limit quantity. Even if they wanted to bring multiple bottles to mix, we limit the quantity of their total liquids as well (bottles "hidden" in the carry-on bag stick out). B) The baggie serves to concentrate the vapor - substances used to create liquid explosives are very volatile and emit fumes even through sealed bottles. (We have tested.) We have liquid explosives detectors that take advantage of the vapor concentration factor in the baggie. This way, we do not have to examine what's inside every bottle, regardless of what the label says.
I bet if I put a baggie over a TSA persons head that would mist over as well because of the sheer amount of bullshit coming from him.
liqbase
Maybe in Scotland, the flight screeners are friendly and efficient. In the US, they are meglomaniacal assholes who wanted these jobs so they could push people around. They intentionally go out of their way to make flying as unpleasant and as big a hassle as possible. Don't believe me? Fly through O'Hare some day.
There are two facts you need to learn.
1 - TSA are low grade rent-a-cops. they typically have IQ's below 95 and are picked not because they are good but because they will blindly obey.
2 - These people get power trips and start making shit up. I have seen people hassled until a TSA supervisor informs the idiots that they will get in trouble if they dont back off.
3 - Most TSA agents are sickos. Every single woman I know that travels a lot has stories of how they are always searched and groped. One executive friend who is drop dead gorgeous has made complains through her lawyer about it, the TSA told her lawyer to basically go away.
treat all TSA agents like retarded 36 year old children, because that is basically what they are. simple, easy to trick, but dangerous if they get in one of their rages.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.