New Informant

Added to my informants:

Taking Sense Away

"Confessions of a Former TSA Screener. Views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the TSA. Obviously."

One of my favorite observations:

"I’ve known a few screeners who went from TSA on to the FBI, and who assured me that they pretty much have to do their best to hide their previous employer from their new FBI buddies in much the same way that a child molester tries to hide his crime from prison mates. "

Today's "Say it ain't so, Batman!"

Feeling safer 'cause of the "high technology" TSA scanners? Think again.

Pornoscanners trivially defeated by pancake-shaped explosives

It is very likely that a large (15-20 cm in diameter), irregularly-shaped, cm-thick pancake with beveled edges, taped to the abdomen, would be invisible to this technology, ironically, because of its large volume, since it is easily confused with normal anatomy. Thus, a third of a kilo of PETN, easily picked up in a competent pat down, would be missed by backscatter "high technology".

h/t Boing Boing

TSA and Your Monkey

The TSA has guidelines on how to check your service monkey. All I can say is:



h/t Slashdot

Addendum: "The inspection process may require that the handler to take off [sic] the monkey’s diaper as part of the visual inspection." What's PETA's take on this indignity?

Can't Happen Here!

This can't happen at IUPUI:

Alabama Prof Kills Three at Faculty Meeting After Being Denied Tenure

University policy disallows firearms on campus. I feel all safe and stuff because of that.

Quote of the Day

Imagine if Lee Iacocca ran Laguardia.

-- Matthew at Straight Forward in a crooked world

Quote of the Day

It's not about making you safe and it never ever was. It's about making you know who's in charge.

--Rob K. commenting on the TSA.

Sunday Cartoon

h/t Flopping Aces

Do It Like the Israelis

If we did it like the Israelis, airport security would be done professionally. And therein lies the problem. The TSA personnel that do security now would have to rise to the level of professionalism and really do the job or be fired. And then they'd be back to fucking up my order at McDonald's.

TSA and Poop Chute Shenanigans

Though I find his politics muddled (to say the least) I think Cory Doctorow does us a service with this warning:

Now that a terrorist has tried unsuccessfully to blow up a Saudi prince with a bomb shoved up his ass, the TSA is obliged to perform rectal exams on every flier for the rest of time. After all, once a jihadi failed to blow up a plane with his shoe, we all needed to start taking our shoes off. Then some knuckleheads believed they could blow up a plane with energy beverages and hair gel, so now we have to limit ourselves to 100ml of all liquids and gels, unless they're for babies or are prescription (because no mass-murderer would be so evil as to forge a doctor's note, which, as every junkie knows, cannot possibly be forged).

Now we found someone who was made to believe he could kill people with an asshole bomb, and so it follows that the TSA will have to ban -- or at least inspect -- our assholes.

This is going to be interesting. Will the Fourth Ammendment continue to be ignored as we continue to be players in the daily production of Security Theatre at our airports?

Security Theatre

A couple of days ago I read about Breda's experience with TSA flying out of Indy Cleveland. I see Roberta X has commented on it.

I've met Breda and find her to be a pleasant, fun woman and a bit of a hornet in a tin can (that's a GOOD thing!) but who would never fit the profile of a terrorist. But we have to remember that TSA is not into actual security but is participating in Security Theatre starring the same sort of people who regularly fuck up my order at McDonald's.

Update: Roberta X corrects me. Breda flew out of Cleveland. I must have been flashing on Mrs. Shomes flying out of Indy earlier this month and HER adventures with TSA. And Shermlock Jr. gets extra-special attention when he flies. Here's his DL photo: