Slashdot Mirror
Making Airport Scanners Less Objectionable
Hugh Pickens writes "The Washington Post reports that one of the researchers who helped develop the software for the scanners says there is a simple fix that would make scanning less objectionable. The fix would distort the images captured on full-body scanners so they look like reflections in a fun-house mirror, but any potentially dangerous objects would be clearly revealed, says Willard 'Bill' Wattenburg, a former nuclear weapons designer at the Livermore lab. 'Why not just distort the image into something grotesque so that there isn't anything titillating or exciting about it?' asks Wattenburg, adding that the modification is so simple that 'a 6-year-old could do the same thing with Photoshop... It's probably a few weeks' modification of the program.' Wattenburg said he was rebuffed when he offered the concept to Department of Homeland Security officials four years ago. A TSA official said the agency is working on development of scanner technology that would reduce the image to a 'generic icon, a generic stick figure' that would still reveal potentially dangerous items." Reader FleaPlus points out an unintended consequence: some transportation economists believe that the TSA's new invasive techniques may lead to more deaths as more people use road transportation to avoid flying — much more dangerous by the mile than air travel.
If you have less muslims flying because sexual assault at airports, it's going to make screening easier and more effective.
I don't know but you can fuck right off back to 4chan and take your immaturity with you.
In unrelated news, the Catholic Church reports a sudden lack of priestly applicants.
"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
No you fucking morons NO! No You will not take nude pictures of me and my family - you stupid fucking CUNT! "less objectionable" - what is that code word for - you'll only jerk-off to the nude pictures of my daughter once?
NO NO NO Why are we not storming the the fucking airports right NOW! Why don't I see TSA agents hanging from the airport's light posts.
Because we're are a bunch of pussies that's why. Our founding father defeated the greatest army on Earth (at the time) over TAXES!! TAXES!! and we're such stupid pussies that we allow the government to take nude pictures of our families and do NOTHING.
I have no respect for you.
The radiation produced by the scanners is non-ionizing. RF is non-ionizing. It's not an X-ray, or an MRI, or a CT, all of which use ionizing radiation. So you lose points for that one.
Radiation exposure risk is cumulative over your life.
Citation Needed.
Eschew Obfuscation
So walk through the scanner. No, wait: that would be too easy.
Try explaining to a preschooler how much "crap" is his fear of the two big stranger taking him away from visibly upset Mommy and Daddy and then touching him in ways that would get 15 years to life for anyone else who did it. Better yet, try explaining that to Mommy and Daddy.
As George Carlin would say, "Nobody cares about your kids...that's why they're your kids." As a matter of fact, I couldn't give a damn less about the possible mental damage or fear imposed on the parents or children. God, I can't STAND when people bring their damn brats on a flight to begin with. If you want little Johnny and Suzy to be so safe, you put up with those little snot-nosed wankers in your own damn car and drive to Disneyland. You love them so much, don't you? Let them annoy you.