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TSA Saw My Junk, Missed Razor Blades, Says Adam Savage
An anonymous reader writes "The TSA isn't the most respected of governmental agencies right now, but at least it comes by the poor reputation honestly. The lack of standards, inconsistent application of searches and policies, and occasional rude agent all combine to make flying an unpleasant experience. It's often derided as 'security theater,' which describes the experience of Mythbuster Adam Savage before a recent flight. Savage was put through the full-body scanner, and while he joked that it made his penis feel small, no one seemed to notice the items he was carrying on his person. The video tells the rest of the story."
I've seen videos of the new scanning procedure where people got scanned, turn 90 degrees, and got scanned again.
It was at w00tstock in Seattle. That was in May.
Another non-functioning site was "uncertainty.microsoft.com."
The purpose of that site was not known.
maybe some day we can go back to probably cause.
straitjackets for all passengers.
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
Why is no one noticing that this video and a lot of sources being reported in the news are previous events that happened 6+ months ago????
I flew on an international flight and transfered in LA to go to PDX. When I got home, I opened up my carry on bag and found a box cutter sitting in the front pouch. So much for security.
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." [Thomas Jefferson]
Replacing hourly wage untrained rent-a-cops at security checkpoints, with employed professionals with actual management, was a good idea. Before 9/11 airport security was designed to be cheap and not impede the paying passengers. Having training, standards, etc. was a real step up.
Then things began going horribly, horribly wrong.
It is fundamentally impossible to keep every conceivable bomb or potential "weapon" off every plane. There are already gaping security holes (unscreened cargo from abroad, all those goods brought in for sale at the little airport shops, etc., etc.) that are completely unaddressed. Body cavity bombs have already been used and the naked videos and grope sessions won't detect them.
We need someone with some sense running this show. Instead we have Michael Cherthoff.
Did you see this story from the beginning of the year: http://www.infowars.com/chertoff-linked-to-body-scanner-manufacturer/ ? Cherthoff, while serving as a key government official, also runs a private consulting company one of whose clients is - the body scanner manufacturer.
Again we see the government being used as a means to stuff the pockets of well-connected, while your tax sollars are sued to physically abuse you for no benefit.
Starships were meant to fly, Hands up and touch the sky - Nicky Minaj
Ridiculous?
... it sounds like you called it right: ridiculous.
Air marshal leaves plane after dropping bullets
Passenger Finds Loaded Ammunition Clip on Southwest Flight
US air marshal leaves gun in airport restroom
Air Marshal Causes International Incident
Air Marshal Accused of Rape at Gunpoint
Marshals Fight Battle in Air and on Ground
From that last article:
"How would you describe the management in the air marshal service?" CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian asked a current air marshal.
"Sexist, racist, homophobic, anti-disabled vet group, grossly incompetent," said the marshal, whose identity was concealed. "That's the general consensus among air marshals."
Nearly two dozen current or former marshals have told CBS News the agency is dominated by an "old boys club" of white, male supervisors -- mainly ex-secret service agents who, they allege, routinely discriminate, intimidate and retaliate against employees who question their actions or authority.
"This behavior has just spread like a cancer and it's out of control," the marshal said.
Well
Whoever designed level 61 in Frozen Bubble is a sadistic bastard.
It was 2002. In that case, a lone gunman tried to shoot up the El Al ticket line, killing two and wounding four more, but was himself shot dead by El Al security.
You can never go home again... but I guess you can shop there.
El-Al (Israel) gives knives to everyone, not just first class. They've been making fun of the other airlines about it for years. If everybody has knives, then a terrorist with a knife is no more dangerous than he'd be on the ground, assuming the knife cannot be used to somehow quickly down the plane.
"It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations..." -Winston Churchill
Ummm, right wingers aren't any more over it than left, and I have never heard any "right-winger" claim that it was obama's fault. In fact, beck has even gone out of his way to expressly state that he doesn't blame obama for it.
The idea behind a TSA isn't bad, its the execution and the continiously expanding sphere of influence that is.
Actually, Adam's friends tested this: the signals, especially the 900MHz band, did interfere with unshielded electronics, but modern planes are mostly shielded. Thus, this limitation is being lifted in Europe.
Hyperbole: I use it liberally!
Not just duty free - but the economic well being of all airport stores.
I once had a pair of tweezers confiscated from me for a domestic flight.
Passed through security, walked into the airport newsagency, and was able to buy a new pair within 5 minutes.
You can never know everything, and part of what you do know will always be wrong. Perhaps even the most important part.
The scanner only detects (sharp) edges.
Adam had his blades in a round container, you can put anything in round non-metallic containers and the scanner won't see it.
Funny. I count 88 ElAl flights today either arriving at or departing from Ben Gurion Airport. http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/BenGurion/InformationforTravelers/OnlineFlights.htm
Such attacks happened in Israel, I specifically remember this one. It is, however, significantly less effective then taking down a plane. Also, you can still find large crowds outside checkpoints in Israel (not in the airport, but in Tel Aviv's central bus station, for example).
If your willing to die you don't need to be McGyver to bring down a plane - stick a rag into your bottle of duty free spirits, light it, and throw it at the cockpit door.
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.